Want to know the secret to success? Are you ready? Here it is: ‘Follow your fear’.

We’ve been conditioned to fit in – be like everyone else. Yet, when we only play it safe, we miss out on the payoffs of taking the occasional risk. Here’s a perspective that surprisingly will guide you to your best life.

Falling in love with fear
The physiological response to fear is identical to that of excitement. Sweaty palms, butterflies, maybe a bit of nausea – signs you’re nervous, and excited. Dig into that fear, find the excitement. Are you on the ledge of vulnerability in a new relationship; or close to realizing a major dream you’re afraid might fail? If you’re doing the same old thing, there would be no fear. Next time you’re nervous, reframe it as excitement and congratulate yourself for stepping outside your comfort zone.

It’s all made up
When working with executive clients, we use a tool from Richard Carson’s book Taming your Gremlin. The idea: we all have little monsters (gremlins) chattering in our heads, desperately trying to keep us the same. As we step into new territory,
they start, “Who do you think you are? What will “they” think? You’re too old / young / experienced / inexperienced. Don’t have enough time / money / brains / support. It’ll never work.” Sound familiar? We ALL have gremlins. The question isn’t whether we have them; it’s what we do with them.

• Track them: Take the gremlins’ chatter out of your head and put it on paper – it mira-culously loses its power.
  
• The 10% lie: You may not have enough money to do what you want – yet. But we take that 10% truth and make it 100% reality. Don’t stop at, “I can’t afford it,” follow Robert T. Kiyosaki’s advice, ask yourself the empowering question, “How can I afford it?” – start your creative juices flowing towards success.
  
• Explore the Grey Zone: Gremlins tend to be black and white; extremes of all or nothing. Explore between the extremes where creative solutions lurk.
  
• Follow the signs: Gremlins are giant billboards flashing, “This way to the good stuff!” Do what scares you the most every day. Call that prospective client; have that tough conversation; commit to that trip, then take action.
  
• Do it: The antidote to fear is action. Leap off that ledge. You won’t outsmart your gremlins – they know your weak points. Your power is to out-act them.

H&L